South East Locomotive Group

South East Locomotive Group Owners of two ex british railways Class 33 locomotives '33063 - R J Mitchell’ &' 33065 - Sealion’ based at the Spa Valley Railway - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

27/03/2026

Following on from the group's AGM Saturday 14th March on Sunday (Mothering Sunday!) we had a work party to clear up our storage area. Whilst we were busy doing this, 33063, with one of our Owner Members at the controls, was working top 'n' tail with the Class 25 to and from the Broom Lane Bridge worksite. Enjoy the sound as 33063 climbs back up the hill towards TWW pulling clear of a 10mph speed restriction.

🎥 courtesy of Toby Tankard.

This is a massive project for our 'home railway' and is coming to fruition. A momentous occasion for them and to the tea...
27/03/2026

This is a massive project for our 'home railway' and is coming to fruition. A momentous occasion for them and to the team that is fulfilling this project.

Donations towards this are still very much needed as its a massive cost for a heritage railway. Full details can be found at Spa Valley Railway - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

The 'Stride the Line' event this coming Sunday is an excellent way to donate and some good exercise too!

33063 is ready for the last day of the Broom Lane Beer Festival at Spa Valley Railway - Royal Tunbridge Wells, KentTrain...
22/03/2026

33063 is ready for the last day of the Broom Lane Beer Festival at Spa Valley Railway - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Trains service at running from 1120 - 1640 going between Tunbridge Wells West and Broom Lane Bridge where the bridge is in the process of being replaced

Whilst we are, not just yet, back in the shed to continue with the refurbishment work to 33063, the opportunity was take...
18/03/2026

Whilst we are, not just yet, back in the shed to continue with the refurbishment work to 33063, the opportunity was taken to have a tidy up on Sunday 15th March following the groups AGM the previous day.

We had accumulated a lot of redundant pieces together with cut off bits from 063 and 065 and the time had come for a tidy up before we start again. What a way to spend Mothering Sunday!

Whilst we were busying ourselves with this task, 33063 was also busy (along with the Class 25 - D7535) on passenger train shuttles to and from the Broom Lane Bridge replacement site. It sounded fantastic climbing up the hill back to Tunbridge Wells West pulling away from a 10mph ESR. (clip of this to follow!)

So here we see the old roof silencer box being scrapped together with old engine room side doors - the picture captions tells all.

17/03/2026

With thanks to Spa Valley Spotter for this excellent clip of 33063 R J Mitchell powering away from the 15 mph approach to Forge Farm Crossing heading towards Eridge. First train of the day on Sunday 08/02/26.

At Spa Valley Railway - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

As 2025 draws to a close we wish you all a very Happy New Year. 33063 has completed all its booked workings over the Pol...
31/12/2025

As 2025 draws to a close we wish you all a very Happy New Year. 33063 has completed all its booked workings over the Polar Trains without any issues at the Spa Valley Railway - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

The loco will remain in service for the first couple of months in 2026, then we must stop the loco to complete the bodywork and associated framework repairs followed by the repaint.

There's still plenty of work to do on the loco, our aim is to do it to a standard where we won't have to do it again, then it'll be onto completing 33065!

As this picture has now been used in the Spa Valley Starter Magazine, here is 33063 pictured at Birchden Junction with t...
18/12/2025

As this picture has now been used in the Spa Valley Starter Magazine, here is 33063 pictured at Birchden Junction with the first service train of the day on 25/10/25.

The loco performed very well for us, except for the minor coolant leak preventing it running the following day. However, I am pleased to report it was soon fixed and 063 is now in the middle of its duties on the Polar Train Ride at the Spa Valley Railway. 33063 is working well and making full use of its ETH capability.

The loco will return to the shed next year to finish off the refurbishment and repaint.

📷 Chris Smith.

25/10/2025

33063 has developed a water leak in the area of No5 cylinder, which during the day and evening has steadily got worse, so we're not happy with this.

Subsequently we're sorry to say that it won't run tomorrow now, which is disappointing for us and for anybody coming along to ride behind it.

31430 will now be the replacement.

After extensive cleaning and testing, since 33063 was stood down for some quite invasive bodywork repairs, we are please...
24/10/2025

After extensive cleaning and testing, since 33063 was stood down for some quite invasive bodywork repairs, we are pleased to say that the loco will appear on the Spa Valley train services tomorrow and possibly Sunday for testing prior to taking part in the Polar Train Rides at the railway. This is the only opportunity to come along and enjoy 33063 this year on a normal train service.

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October is the last scheduled normal service trains this year, before we switch over to the seasonal Polar Train Ride.

See Spa Valley Railway - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent for full details of this weekends trains & event plus evening trains on Saturday too!

Recent pictures of 33063 show it being readied in the shed and also the new replacement marker lights - two already fitted, but are to be wired up later.

Next year 33063 needs to return to the shed so that the bodywork refurbishment can continue and the repaint can be completed.

A short update for you on where we've got to with 33063 R J Mitchell.Work has been progressing but with limited help we'...
23/08/2025

A short update for you on where we've got to with 33063 R J Mitchell.

Work has been progressing but with limited help we've not got as far with it as we had hoped for. The result of this is that the rededication day we had hoped to take part in, on the 13th September in a joint event with the Bullied Pacific - Sir Keith Park, has left us no option but to drop out of.

More metal fatigue has been found to the Secondman side of Cab 2 (most of which is structural)and will now need to be addressed next year as our time in the shed for repairs/refurbishment works is drawing to a close and we will need to vacate the shed space for events taking place that also use the shed.

Whilst the roof painting and fettling is just about done the body sides will now sport a primer coat livery until next year and when the final welding work is completed we can also complete the new livery.

Address

Nevill Terrace
Tunbridge Wells
TN25QY

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